Self-emptying ash tray



O 23, 1943- R. WESSELHOEFT 2,335,094

SELF-EMPTYING ASH TRAY Filed NOV. 29, 1940 INVENTOR.

. m ROBERT WESSELHOEFT ATTO NEYS Patented Nov. 23, 1943 SELF- EMPTYING ASH TRAY Robert Wessclhoeft, Sandwich, Mass.,- assignor of one-half to Michael Hubert OBrien, Detroit,

Mich.

Application November 29, 1940, Serial No. 367,776 3 Claims. (01.206-195) This invention relates to a self-emptying ash tray particularly adapted for use upon motor vehicles, though by no means restricted thereto,

and has for its object an improved organization of parts whereby the burned-away tip of a lighted cigar or cigarette may be kept away" from objectionable lodgment upon the clothes of the driver or upon the upholstery of the car, without the necessity of the smokers reaching his cigaretteholding hand out of the window, or to an ash tray within the car, whose position may subject the cigar or cigarete to cross drafts which serve to dislodge the ash before it can be positioned where a catch tray alone can be effective.

In the drawing:

Figure l is-a side elevational view largely in section, showing the ash tray or drawer in out-' of-the-way position relatively to the dashboard of a vehicle in which it is positioned.

Figure 2 is a similar side elevational view showing the drawer in partly outdrawn position relatively to the dash, in its preliminary ash-receiving position.

movement of the car. In any event the pipe F serves as a discharge medium for the ashes and Figure 3 is a similar view, showing the ash drawer still further withdrawn to permit access to the cigarette storage chamber, which, if desired, may be integrated in the construction herein disclosed.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view illustrating the possibility of using a positive pressure-induced suction, as well as vacuum effect upon the contents of the ash drawer.

A represents the dash of a motor vehicle in a suitably positioned and sized cut-away portion of which there is designed to be positioned the slidingdrawer B operable by means of the knob B. In addition to its side and end portions, as C, this drawer is provided with a sloping bottom part D extending an appreciable extent of the drawers length; down this cigarette ashes are adapted to be tumbled when the drawer is in outdrawn position shown in Figures 2 and 3. The rear portion of the drawers bottom is provided with an orifice, as E, through which, when the ash drawer is in the closed position shown in Figure 1, any ashes present within the contained space of the drawer can 'fall through the discharge pipe F which leads to a convenient point subjacent of the vehicle through which ashes, cigarette, and cigar stubs may be conducted to the outside of the vehicle below the level of the car's floor. If the discharge funnel portion F of this pipe is faced toward the rear of the car, there is a certain degree of vacuum generated adjacent this flaring mouth F by the forward cigarette stubs tumbled into it through the orifice E in the bottom of the drawer.

Pivotally supported across the top of the space G above the sloping floor D is a baflie or gate H whose lower edge normally rests upon the sloping floor D in position to prevent back draft from extending as far up as the front top edge of the ash drawer into whichashes or cigarette or cigar stubs are introduced. This bafile or door may be operated by a spring, as H, or by a weighted lever, as desired. Upon' the top end of the slopingfloor D adjacent the outer or users end of the drawer there may be positioned a snubb'er J against which the lighted ends of cigars or cigarettes may be pressed to facilitate the displacement of the accumulated ash from the unburned portion. In the upper and largely rearward portion of the drawer space there may be provided a supplementary floor K, serving to separate the rest-of the drawer from it, so that unlighted cigars and cigarettes may be storedtherein for convenient access when the drawer is in fully drawn out position, sometimes even further out than that illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

In contrast'with the position of the orifice E shown in Figure l the position thereof shown in Figure 3 brings out the entire blanking of the orifice by the wall A of the dash structure, so that there is no communication possible between the orifice E and the contents of the chamber G and the discharge pipe F.

In some cases the motion-induced suction upon the flaring outer end F of the discharge pipe may be sufficient for the eifectuation of the purposes herein stated. In other instances, it may be advisabl to produce a definitely created vacuum influence upon the lower end of the discharge pipe by some such means as the connection L shown in Figure 4. If this be resorted to, it may be either a vacuum influence from a source, such as connection with the exhaust of the engine, indicated by the arrow (1 indicated in Figure 4, or by a pressure influence acting in the opp site direction upon the lower end of the discharge pipe F, illustrated by the arrow head 1) in Figure 4.

It Will be obvious that the possible utility of this construction is not limited to the motor vehicle field, since any embodiment thereof could be applied, without change in principle, to a stationary construction, such as a room wall or the like, and I desire the scope of this disclosure to be understood accordingly.

what I claim is: 1. Means for eflectuating position of cigarette or cigar ash from objectionable proximity to a smoker, comprising, in'com-.

bination with a supporting frame structurally the convenient discontainer is indrawn relatively to the frame,

thereby enabling the evacuation ofthe contents of the container through the discharge pipe, and

' which floor aperture is inposition of non registry integrated within the instrument panel of a motor 7 vehicle, a downwardly extending discharge pipe leading from a suitably positioned portion there oi, amanually actuatable ash-receiving drawer horizontally slidable in said frame above the open top of said discharge pipe, said drawer having. a rearwardly and downwardly inclined floor in its forward port-ion and an apertured floor in its 'rearwardly positioned portion, which aperture is in registry with the top of the discharg pipe when the-drawer is in closed position relatively to the supporting framework, and means operatively appurtenant the lower end of said discharge pipe whereby a supplemental vacuum influence may be exerted. upon the pipe and upon the contents with-the discharge pipe when the container is in outdrawn position relatively to the frame, and a hinged" baiile member positioned adjacent the ash-receiving end of the container wherebythe space'adjac'ent :that'e'nd thereof is protected against the possible vacuum influence prevailing when theaperture in the floor of the container is in registry with the discharge pipe. 7

3. Means for facilitating the removal of ashes from proximity to a smoker seated within a motor vehicle, comprising, with a supporting framework constituting aportion of the dash structure of of the drawer when the apertured floor portion of the latter is in eflective registry with the top of said discharge pipe; Y

-2. In combination with' a supporting frame and with a downwardly-extending discharge pipe supported therefrom, an ash-receiving container horizontally and limitedly slidable within said frame immediately above the open top of said discharge pipe, the floor of said container hav-' ing an aperture in'its rearwardly positioned portion which is adapted to register-with th sublacent top end of said discharge pipe when the f registry when the drawer is in inwardly projected position relatively to the dash of the vehicle, and means operatively appurtenant a portion of said discharge pipe relatively. remote from its open top end for exerting a downwardly directe'd suction influence upon material delivered thereinto through the. apertured floor portion of said drawer. ROBERT WESSELHOEFT. 

